Recharging method and apparatus

Abstract

The present invention provides apparatus and an associated method for remotely energizing power storage devices. Energization may preferably be effected through the use of RF energy from a base station, ambient energy or ultra-wide band energy. The remote station preferably has at least one antenna having an effective area greater than its physical area. The system may have an antenna and associated circuitry provided on an electronic chip such as a monolithic chip or on a printed circuit with a suitable substrate.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. Ser. No. 10 / 459,051 filed Jun. 11, 2003, entitled “RECHARGING METHOD AND APPARATUS” which, this application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 411,825, entitled “RECHARGING METHOD” filed Sep. 18, 2002.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] This invention relates to a method and associated apparatus for remote energizing of power storage devices and particularly to a method employing small apparatus for remote energizing of power storage devices using RF. The method of this invention preferably employs at least one antenna that has an effective area greater than its physical area to harvest energy. [0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art [0005] Contactless electrical connections are well known in the field of portable electrical devices. For example, portable motorized toothbrushes typically contain a rechargeable battery, which is c...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0022] It is another object of the invention to provide such a method and apparatus where

Problems solved by technology

A major problem with inductive charging is that the charging device needs to be in close proximity to the electronic device in order to energized power storage devices in the electronic device.

Also, the size of the dipole antennas for the device do not make it practical for the majority of portable electronic devices (e.g., cellular telephones, portable electronic games, digital camera's and the like).

The problem with the approach as disclosed by Carroll U.S. Pat. No. 4,857,893 is the need to deposit a permalloy magnetic film, or other suitable material having a large magnetic permability and electrical insulating properties in order increase the inductance of the coil.

This increases the cost and complexity of the antenna of a chip.

It also limits the ability to shrink the size of the antenna because of the need for magnetic film layers between the antenna coil(s).

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